Filter and system for improved sealing and ease of attachment on a vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

The disclosure provides a system for mounting and sealing a filter in a vacuum cleaner, such as a wet and dry vacuum cleaner, that concentrates compressive sealing forces on a specific, relatively thin seal portion rather than the filter body as a whole. The concentrated compressive stress provides a well-defined region to consistently provide a sealing engagement. A portion of the seal is positioned into an undercut portion of a mounting assembly and is compressed or “pinched” between opposing surfaces to cause the sealing. Further, one or more of the surfaces are movable to compress the seal portion therebetween by actuation of a rotatable filter clamp engageable with a cam. The filter clamp translates toward the seal portion as the filter clamp is rotated along a sloped surface of the cam to engage and clamp the seal portion between the surfaces.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appl. No.60/739,651, filed Nov. 23, 2005, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to the field of vacuum cleaners. Morespecifically, the disclosure relates to filters for vacuum cleaners.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vacuum cleaners are notoriously dusty and dirty, requiring some methodto separate the dust and the dirt from the exhaust air. Hence, filtersare commonly used to perform this separation function. There often is aneed to remove and re-attach the filter, for example, when cleaning thefilter or replacing it with a new filter. With the type of vacuumcleaners known as “wet/dry” vacuum cleaners, the filter is often alsoremoved when the vacuum cleaner is suctioning liquids. Thus, specialstructures accompany a typical wet/dry vacuum cleaner to accommodateremoving and replacing the filter.

Typically, a suction system with a motor creates the vacuum and ismounted in a lid that is removably attached to a collection drum forreceiving the vacuumed materials. A portion of the lid, herein termed amounting assembly, extends at least partially downward into the drum andmounts a filter support assembly, such as commonly known as a “cage,”that generally covers a vacuum intake to the suction assembly in thelid. The filter support assembly is composed of a series of ribs with alarge percentage of open surface area. The ribs support the filter andprevent radially inward collapse of the filter during operation. The lidsuctions external air or water through a hose into an opening in thedrum or lid, so that water or dirt is deposited into the drum. Remainingmaterial, mainly air, then flows radially inward through the filter forremoval of dirt and debris and continues through the filter supportassembly into a suction impeller in the lid, and then is exhausted fromthe vacuum cleaner.

In many such systems, the entire filter body is attached to the mountingassembly by a mounting flange removably attached to the mountingassembly. The filter is inserted over the cage, and a mounting flange ofrigid material, such as plastic, is attached to the cage or mountingassembly and used to compress or “sandwich” the filter between theflange and the mounting assembly. The compressive force on the entirefilter body and its filter element is the primary force used to seal thefilter to the vacuum cleaner and prevent unwanted leakage into theimpeller.

Experience has shown that operators have difficulty determining how muchcompressive force to use on the filter body, because such installationincludes compressing the filter element as well. At times, operators usetoo little force and allow leakage of fine dust, resulting in wear onthe internal vacuum motor, impeller, and other internal structures. Atother times, operators apply too much force and crush the filter orstrip the attachment threads, causing repair or replacement. Further,the compressive force can vary, depending on whether the filter mediahas been exposed to moisture as is typical in a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

Therefore, there remains a need for an improved filter design and systemfor mounting and sealing the filter in such a vacuum cleaner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provides a system for mounting and sealing a filter in avacuum cleaner, such as a wet and dry vacuum cleaner, that concentratescompressive sealing forces on a specific, relatively thin seal portionrather than the filter body as a whole. The concentrated compressivestress provides a well-defined region to consistently provide a sealingengagement. A portion of the seal is positioned into an undercut portionof a mounting assembly and is compressed or “pinched” between opposingsurfaces to cause the sealing. Further, one or more of the surfaces aremovable to compress the seal portion therebetween by actuation of arotatable filter clamp engageable with a cam. The filter clamptranslates toward the seal portion as the filter clamp is rotated alonga sloped surface of the cam to engage and clamp the seal portion betweenthe surfaces.

The disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner system, comprising: a mountingassembly of a vacuum cleaner having a first cross sectional dimensionand having an undercut portion of less cross sectional dimension thatthe first cross sectional dimension; a filter support assembly adaptedto be fixedly coupled to the mounting assembly; and a filter having afilter element and a lateral seal portion coupled to the filter element,the filter being removably coupled around at least a portion of thefilter support assembly, and the lateral seal portion being orientedradially inward toward a longitudinal axis of the filter, the lateralseal portion at least partially extending into the undercut portion ofthe mounting assembly, the filter support assembly, or a combinationthereof, the lateral seal portion being adapted to be compressed to sealthe filter to the mounting assembly.

The disclosure also provides a vacuum cleaner system, comprising: amounting assembly having a cam with a sloped surface; a rotatable filterclamp coupled to the mounting assembly and adapted to engage the cam sothat rotation of the filter clamp changes elevation of the filter clampin conjunction with the sloped surface; and a filter coupled to themounting system and adapted to seal to the mounting system by therotation of the filter clamp and corresponding change in elevation ofthe clamp.

The disclosure further provides a method of sealing a filter to a vacuumcleaner, the vacuum cleaning having a mounting assembly with a firstcross sectional dimension and an undercut portion of less crosssectional dimension that the first cross sectional dimension, and afilter support assembly for supporting the filter, comprising: placingthe filter over the filter support assembly so that a lateral sealportion of the filter engages the undercut portion, the filter supportassembly, or a combination thereof; and rotating a filter clamp coupledto the mounting assembly along a cam surface to change the elevation ofthe filter clamp in a direction toward the lateral seal portion andcompress the lateral seal portion disposed in the undercut portion.

The disclosure further provides a filter for a wet and dry vacuumcleaner comprising: a filter element having an opening on at least oneend about a longitudinal axis of the filter; a seal coupled to thefilter element, the seal formed on the end with said opening, the sealcomprising a longitudinal seal portion and lateral seal portion, thelongitudinal seal portion protruding in a longitudinal direction fromthe filter element; the lateral seal portion fixedly attached to thelongitudinal seal portion, the lateral seal being oriented radiallyinward toward the longitudinal axis and having a minimum diameter thatis less than the diameter of the filter element, and the lateral sealportion being adapted to be compressed and seal the filter to the vacuumcleaner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description, briefly summarized above, may be had byreference to the embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings,forming part of the present specification and described herein. It is tobe noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only someembodiments described herein and are therefore not to be consideredlimiting of the disclosure's scope, in that there can be other equallyeffective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary filter of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective cross sectional schematic view of the exemplaryfilter, showing the filter seals, filter element, and cap.

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary mounting assemblyof the vacuum cleaner in a first position, having a filter supportassembly upon which the filter is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary mounting assemblyof the vacuum cleaner in a second position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of cam details of the exemplarymounting assembly of the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic bottom view of an exemplary filterclamp adapted to be coupled with the mounting assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional schematic view of the vacuum cleanermounting assembly with the filter mounted thereto.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thevacuum cleaner system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary filter of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective cross sectional schematicview of the exemplary filter, showing the filter seals, filter element,and cap. The figures will be described in conjunction with each other.The filter 2 includes a filter element 4 having a seal 6 disposed on alower end (relative to the figure orientation) and a filter cap 8disposed on an upper end distal from the seal 6. The cap 8 can include ahandle 10 for convenience in handling the filter. The components aredisposed along a longitudinal axis 18. The filter element is generallyporous material, such as cloth or paper, and can be reinforced withmetal or plastic mesh. The filter seal 6 is generally formed from anon-porous material to reduce leakage therethrough and is sealed at theinterface of the filter element. Advantageously, the seal can be made ofa variety of flexible elastomeric materials that can be stretched andcompressed and formed to various shapes, known to those with ordinaryskill in the art. It is to be understood that the filter shape andconfiguration can vary within the scope of the claims herein with theprimary goal of sealing the filter to the vacuum cleaner so as toinhibit undesired flow through the vacuum cleaner to which the filter isattached.

The filter seal 6 can include a lateral seal portion 12 and alongitudinal seal portion 14 coupled thereto. The lateral seal portion12 extends radially inward toward the longitudinal axis 18 and sealswith a filter support assembly, shown in more detail in FIG. 7 describedbelow. The lateral seal portion has a thickness and compositionsufficient to be compressed between two adjacent surfaces, describedbelow, and maintain resiliency upon release. Generally, the lateral sealportion 12 is sized smaller across its cross-sectional dimension 16 thana corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the filter supportassembly, so that the lateral seal portion is stretched over therelevant filter support assembly section and then resiliently contractsafter encompassing the filter support assembly.

The longitudinal seal portion 14 can provide additional flexibility byproviding a flexible moment arm for movement of the lateral seal portion12 as it is stretched over the filter support assembly into position.The longitudinal seal portion 14 can be formed with the lateral sealportion 12 to form a unitary “L” shaped member. Still further, someembodiments can include a centering flange (not shown) coupled to thefilter seal 6, such as to the lateral seal portion 12 or thelongitudinal seal portion 14, to form a “T” shaped member. The centeringflange can be useful in initial alignments of the filter to the filtersupport assembly, or alignment of other members to the filter.

While the filter seal 6 and other components are described in terms ofvarious members, it is understood that such description is forconvenience of the reader in identifying different portions, because oneor more of the members can be integrally formed, in keeping with thedefinition of “coupling” herein. The term “coupled,” “coupling,” andlike terms are used broadly herein and can include any method or devicefor securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, insertingtherein, forming thereon or therein, communicating, or otherwiseassociating, for example, mechanically, magnetically, electrically,chemically, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one ormore pieces of members together and can further include withoutlimitation integrally forming one functional member with another in aunity fashion. The coupling can occur in any direction, includingrotationally. Further, the term “end” is used broadly and generallyincludes the end of the effective filter used for filtering a mediapassing therethrough for purposes for which the filter was intended.

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary mounting assemblyof the vacuum cleaner in a first position, having a filter supportassembly upon which the filter is mounted. FIG. 4 is a perspectiveschematic view of an exemplary mounting assembly of the vacuum cleanerin a second position. The figures will be described in conjunction witheach other.

The system 22 includes an exemplary mounting assembly 24 of the vacuumcleaner having a filter support assembly 26 upon which the filter 2 ismounted. In at least some embodiments, the mounting assembly is coupledto a lid of the vacuum cleaner. The system 22 can include othercomponents of a vacuum cleaner, such as the drum into which waste isdisposed and to which the lid is generally coupled. Further, themounting assembly can be coupled to a suction system having a motor,rotatable impeller to create a suction, exhaust, controls and othercomponents known to those with ordinary skill in the art. For clarity,the other portions of the vacuum cleaner are not illustrated in thisfigure.

A filter support assembly 26 is generally coupled to the mountingassembly 24. The filter support assembly includes one or more openings28 to provide for the flow of air or other media downstream of thefilter through the openings and into the mounting assembly 24 for vacuumand subsequent exhaust, as described herein. The filter support assemblycan further include a centering step 62 for a corresponding recess inthe filter cap 8 to slide over the centering step and assist incentering and retaining the filter to the filter support assembly.

A filter clamp 30 is rotationally coupled to the mounting assembly 24.In the embodiment shown, the filter clamp 30 includes a clamp ring 40rotationally coupled to the mounting assembly 24 and an actuator 42 torotate the clamp ring about an axis, such as the longitudinal axis 18.The term “ring” is used broadly and can include a continuous ordiscontinuous set of components. The actuator 42 can include a lever asshown, solenoid, stepper motor, and other manual, mechanical,electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuator. In the embodiment shown,an opening 66, such as a slot, is formed in the mounting assembly 24 toconveniently allow the actuator 42 to rotate between first and secondpositions with built-in stops at each position. An optional floatingseal 32 can be coupled to the filter clamp 30 that can be raised andlowered with the filter clamp and particularly the clamp ring 40 betweendifferent positions.

The mounting assembly 24 includes an undercut portion 34. The undercutportion is sized smaller in cross sectional dimension than an adjacentportion of the filter support assembly 26 to provide a location for thelateral seal portion 12 of the filter seal 6 to be relaxed into areduced radial dimension after stretching over the filter supportassembly. The clamp ring 40 and the optional floating seal 32 coupledthereto are disposed about the undercut portion and move longitudinallyalong its length between the first and second positions. The undercutportion 34 allows the seal 6 to move radially inward after stretchingover the filter support assembly 26 and be compressed between opposingsurfaces when the filter clamp is rotated to form a sealing engagementbetween the seal 6 and the mounting assembly 24. The lateral sealportion 12 of the seal 6 in the undercut portion can be pinched betweenopposing surfaces to effect a sealing engagement with the filter and themounting assembly. Further, the floating seal 32 can include a sealsurface 36, and the mounting assembly can include a mounting flange 38,such as on a portion of the filter support assembly 26. A change indistances between the seal surface 36 and the mounting flange 38 due tothe longitudinal movement of the filter clamp causes the portion of theseal 6 in the undercut portion to be selectively compressed andreleased.

In operation, the filter clamp 30 can be rotated to a first position,such as an open position, shown in FIG. 3. The filter 2 can be placedover the filter support assembly 26 by stretching the seal 6 over thefilter support assembly and pushing the filter toward the undercutportion 34. The seal 6 relaxes at least partially upon encountering thesmaller cross section of the undercut portion 34 to protrude into theundercut portion. Meanwhile, the distal end of the filter with the cap 8can engage the centering step 62 to assist in securing the filter to themounting assembly.

The filter clamp 30 can be rotated to a second position such as a closedposition, as shown in FIG. 4. The rotational movement to the closedposition causes longitudinal movement of the filter clamp 30 toward theseal 6 and the flange 38 due to cams 44 below the filter clamp,described herein. The portion of the seal 6 disposed between the filterclamp 30 and the flange 38 is compressed or “pinched” therebetween, thuseffecting a sealing engagement with the filter and mounting assembly. Torelease the filter, the filter clamp 30 is rotated to the first positionand the clamp is lowered away from the flange 38, thus releasing theseal 6. The filter cap handle 10 is grasped and the filter is pulled offthe filter support assembly by stretching the seal 6 over the filtersupport assembly. If there is a floating seal 32 with a seal surface 36coupled to the filter clamp 30, the seal 6 is compressed between theseal surface 36 and the flange 38 when the filter clamp is rotated, sothat it moves longitudinally toward the flange 38.

FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of cam details of the exemplarymounting assembly of the vacuum cleaner. The mounting assembly 24includes one or more cams 44. The quantity of cams is variable,generally more than one, and, for example and without limitation, can befive in at least one embodiment. The cam 44 extends upward in thedirection of the longitudinal axis 18 to cause longitudinal movement ofthe filter clamp 30. The cam 44 generally includes a sloped camelevating surface 46. The elevating surface 46 cooperates with thefilter clamp 30, shown in FIGS. 3-4, to raise and lower the filter clampin the direction of the longitudinal axis, depending on the filter clampposition along the elevating surface. For example, as the filter clampis rotated along the sloped elevating surface, the change in elevationcauses the filter clamp to be raised along the longitudinal axis 18 tocause the clamping action on the seal 6, described herein. The cam 44can further include a detent 48 at or near the top of the cam. Thedetent can be a lowered indention or raised step to assist inmaintaining the clamping and keep the filter clamp from unintentionallyloosening from a desired position. The cam can further include a camstop 50 at an end of the cam to limit the amount of travel of the filterclamp. A cam neutral surface 52 between the cam stop 50 and theelevating surface 46 can provide a transition surface that neitherraises or lowers the filter clamp.

The mounting assembly 24 can further include an inlet 54. Media, such asair, flows from the outside of the filter 2, shown in FIG. 1, throughthe filter element and then into the inlet 54 to inner components suchas an impeller adjacent to the mounting assembly 24, and then isexhausted from the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic bottom view of an exemplary filterclamp coupled with the mounting assembly. The filter clamp 30 includesthe clamp ring 40 and the clamp actuator 42, described above. The clampring 40 further includes one or more cam followers 56 dimensioned tocorrespond to the locations of the cams 44 on the mounting assembly 24,shown in FIG. 5. In general, each cam follower 56 engages its respectivecam as the actuator 42 rotates the clamp ring 40 to raise and lower thefilter clamp along the longitudinal axis 18.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional schematic view of the vacuum cleanermounting assembly with the filter mounted thereto. The system 22includes the mounting assembly 24 with the filter support assembly 26coupled thereto. A filter 2 having a filter element 4 with a cap 8 onone end and a seal 6 on the other end is coupled to the filter supportassembly 26. The seal 6 is disposed toward the end of the filter supportassembly 26 proximal to the mounting assembly, so that the lateral sealportion 12 is longitudinally disposed in the undercut portion 34. Thefilter support assembly 26 can further support the cap 8 of the filter 2by engagement of the cap recess 64 with the centering step 62 of thefilter support assembly upon mounting.

A seal 58 can be disposed between the filter support assembly and themounting assembly, such as at an interface 60 between the filter supportassembly and the mounting assembly. The seal 58 can further be coupledas a separate or integral unit with the mounting flange 38 describedabove to assist in the longitudinal compression and sealing of the seal6 in the clamping process.

The floating seal 32 can be coupled to the filter clamp 30 between theclamp ring 40 and the lateral seal portion 12 of the seal 6 to furtherassist in the longitudinal compression and sealing of the seal 6 in theclamping process. The filter clamp 30 is disposed above the cams 44. Thecam follower 56 can engage the cam 44 to cause the filter clamp to raiseand lower (relative to the figure) and selectively engage the lateralseal portion 12. While raising the filter clamp, the seal surface 36 ofthe optional floating seal 32 engages the lateral seal portion 12.Raising the clamp ring 40 further clamps the lateral seal portion 12 ofthe seal 6 between the seal surface 36 and the mounting flange 38.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thevacuum cleaner system 22. The exemplary system shown in FIG. 8 is awet/dry vacuum cleaner 100 that includes a collection drum 112 and a lid114 removably attached to the collection drum 112 such that the lid 114can be removed to empty debris or liquids contained therein. As withknown wet/dry vacuums, a motor is generally coupled to the mountingassembly on the inside portion of the lid 114 of the vacuum cleaner 100,which is operable to create the vacuum inside the collection drum 112 todraw debris or liquid into the collection drum 112 through an inlet port1 16. The collection drum further includes a drain 118 so that liquidcan be emptied from the collection drum 112 without removing the lid114. The vacuum cleaner 100 generally includes the mounting assembly 24,filter support assembly 26, and filter 2, described above, coupled tothe underside of the lid 114.

The various steps described or claimed herein can be combined with othersteps, can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specificallylimited, various steps can be interlineated with the stated steps, andthe stated steps can be split into multiple steps. Unless the contextrequires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as“comprises” or “comprising”, should be understood to imply the inclusionof at least the stated element or step or group of elements or steps orequivalents thereof, and not the exclusion of any other element or stepor group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof Also, anydirections such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,”and other directions and orientations are described herein for clarityin reference to the figures and are not to be limiting of the actualdevice or system or use of the device or system. The device or systemmay be used in a number of directions and orientations.

The invention has been described in the context of preferred, and otherembodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has beendescribed. Obvious modifications and alterations to the describedembodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thedisclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit orrestrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by theApplicant(s), but rather, in conformity with the patent laws,Applicant(s) intend to protect all such modifications and improvementsto the full extent that such falls within the scope or range ofequivalent of the following claims.

Further, any documents to which reference is made in the application forthis patent as well as all references listed in any list of referencesfiled with the application are hereby incorporated by reference.However, to the extent statements might be considered inconsistent withthe patenting of this invention such statements are expressly not to beconsidered as made by the Applicant(s).

1. A vacuum cleaner system, comprising: a mounting assembly of a vacuumcleaner; a filter support assembly adapted to be fixedly coupled to themounting assembly; and a filter having a filter element and a lateralseal portion coupled to the filter element, the filter being removablycoupled around at least a portion of the filter support assembly, andthe lateral seal portion being oriented radially relative to alongitudinal axis of the filter, the lateral seal portion at leastpartially extending into an undercut area of the mounting assembly, thefilter support assembly, or a combination thereof, the lateral sealportion being adapted to be compressed to seal the filter to themounting assembly.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lateral sealportion is adapted to be compressed without compressing the filterelement coupled thereto.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising afilter clamp coupled to the mounting assembly.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the filter clamp comprises a rotatable lever adapted to be movedalong the longitudinal axis to compress and release the lateral sealportion.
 5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a floating sealcoupled to the filter clamp.
 6. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a seal adapted to seal an interface between the filtersupport assembly and the mounting assembly.
 7. The system of claim 1,further comprising at least one cam coupled to the mounting assemblyhaving a surface that changes elevation along the direction of thelongitudinal axis.
 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a filterclamp coupled to the mounting assembly and dimensioned to engage the atleast one cam to change an elevation of the filter clamp along thelongitudinal axis.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the filter furthercomprises a cap disposed distally from the seal when the seal ispositioned in the undercut portion and dimensioned to at least partiallyengage a portion of the filter support assembly.
 10. The system of claim1, further comprising a vacuum cleaner drum and suction system coupledwith the mounting assembly, the filter support assembly, and the filter.11. A vacuum cleaner system, comprising: a mounting assembly having atleast one cam with a sloped surface; a filter support assembly coupledto the mounting assembly; a rotatable filter clamp coupled to themounting assembly and adapted to engage the at least one cam so thatrotation of the filter clamp changes elevation of the filter clamp inconjunction with the sloped surface; and a filter having a filterelement and a lateral seal portion coupled to the filter element, thefilter being adapted to engage the filter support assembly, and thelateral seal portion being oriented radially relative to a longitudinalaxis of the filter, the lateral seal portion at least partiallyextending into an undercut portion of the mounting assembly, the filtersupport assembly, or a combination thereof, the lateral seal portionbeing adapted to be compressed to seal the filter to the mountingassembly by the rotation of the filter clamp along the sloped surfacewith a corresponding change in elevation of the clamp.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the lateral seal portion is adapted to be compressedwithout compressing the filter element coupled thereto.
 13. A method ofsealing a filter to a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner having amounting assembly and a filter support assembly coupled to the mountingassembly, comprising: placing the filter over the filter supportassembly so that a lateral seal portion of the filter engages anundercut portion formed on the mounting assembly, the filter supportassembly, or a combination thereof, wherein placing the filter over thefilter support assembly comprises: elastically stretching the lateralseal portion around the filter support assembly and sliding the filtertoward an end of the filter support assembly to the undercut portion;and allowing the lateral seal portion to at least partially resume anunstretched position in the undercut portion; and rotating a filterclamp coupled to the mounting assembly along at least one cam surface tochange the elevation of the filter clamp in a direction toward thelateral seal portion and compress the lateral seal portion disposed inthe undercut portion.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprisingcompressing the lateral seal portion to cause sealing of the filter tothe vacuum cleaner while avoiding substantially compressing a filterelement of the filter coupled to the lateral seal portion.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising releasing the lateral sealportion by rotating the filter clamp along the cam surface.
 16. A vacuumcleaner system, comprising: a mounting assembly having at least one camwith a sloped surface; a filter support assembly coupled to the mountingassembly; a rotatable filter clamp coupled to the mounting assembly andadapted to engage the at least one cam so that rotation of the filterclamp changes elevation of the filter clamp in conjunction with thesloped surface; and a filter having a filter element and a lateral sealportion coupled to the filter element, the filler being adapted to sealto the mounting assembly by the rotation of the filter clamp along thesloped surface with a corresponding change in elevation of the clampwithout compressing the filter element.